Ukraine: Journalist Iryna Dubchenko Released After 14 Days Of Captivity Under Russian Forces
Location: Ukraine, Zaporozhia
Date: April 14, 2022
Ukrainian journalist Iryna Dubchenko was released on April 8, 2022, a fortnight after she was taken captive by Russian forces, who raided her home in Rozivka city. She was taken to Moscow-backed separatist-controlled Donetsk city on March 26 and later shifted to Starobeshevo. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned over the aggression Russian forces continue to show against journalists covering the war in Ukraine. We call on Russia to stop detaining journalists and urge all military forces to ensure that members of the press are protected as guaranteed by international laws and allowed to report freely.
The news about Iryna’s release was made public by her friends and family days after her release. On social media and in statements to local media, they confirmed she was back home safe after being held in Starobeshevo, Donetsk, 20 kilometers northwest of the border with Russia.
Iryna was detained on March 26, 2022, by Russian troops in the southeastern city of Rozivka, Zaporozhyeregion, and shifted to Donetsk city, which is under Moscow-backed separatists’ control. At the time of her arrest, Iryna was taking care of her ailing grandmother, according to Ukrainian TV broadcaster 1+1 correspondent Yakov Noskov.Russian forces, however, accused her of sheltering a wounded Ukrainian soldier.
Confirming her release, Iryna’s friend Konstantin Alekseenko wrote on Meta (Facebook) that Iryna was called for 10 minutes and then was taken away.
According to Akekseenko, Iryna was later transferred to Starobesheve, an urban-type settlement in the southeast of Donetsk Oblast, 20 kilometers northwest of the border with Russia.
Iryna has worked for various news outlets including the newspapers Saturday Plus, Politsovet, website Depo.Zaporizhzhya and the Kyiv-based Ukrainian Independent Information Agency of News (UNIAN). She had been reporting throughout the war sparked by Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, according to Oleksandra.
According to Belurisian news outlet NEXTA, the journalist was taken to Donetsk for “investigative actions''. The publication claimed Iryna sheltered a wounded soldier.
In the same week that Iryna was taken captive, another journalist Andriy Tsaplienko and camera operator Oleksandr Navrotskyi were injured by Russian shelling in the northern region of Chernihiv and Lukyanovka in the Kyiv area, respectively.
Journalists and media workers documenting the Russian invasion in Ukraine are striving to ensure extensive and independent coverage in the midst of war. As the situation on ground worsens, at least five journalists have been killed by Russians, including two women journalists Oksana Baulina and Oleksandra Kuvshynova, and several have been injured. Others face detentions, abuse and threats to their safety.
Earlier on March 22, journalist Viktoria Roshchina, associated with independent Ukrainian television channel Hromadske, was released after having been missing for 10 days. Her employer organization claimed that they were unable to reach the journalist after March 11, right after her report on Russian-occupied Enerhodar was published. Local witnesses later confirmed that the journalist was taken captive by Russian troops. The journalist was released 10 days later allegedly after being forced to record a video stating that Russian soldiers had saved her life.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is immensely relieved that Iryna Dubchenko has been released and has safely reunited with her family.Her detention was wrongful to begin with, however. The aggression shown by Russian forces towards journalists documenting Kremlin's war in Ukraine is of grave concern. It is also in violation of international law, which safeguards the right of the press to report freely and independently. We laud the services of our colleagues on ground in Ukraine and in Russia as they risk their lives and safety to bring the truth to the world. Honor their risk by following their work and sharing their stories. Find our list of women journalists reporting from the frontlineshere and ways to support them here.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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